• Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps with the starters before leaving when the starters were done, suggesting a potentially big role this season.
• TE Cole Kmet was aimed at three of Justin Fields‘ five passes in his first preseason action.
• Deployed the Seattle Seahawks Noah Fant, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson with the starters making it unlikely one can be a tight end in fantasy football.
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CHICAGO BEARS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
draft Khalil Herbert: David Montgomery missed another preseason game with an undisclosed injury, allowing Herbert to play 100% snaps with the starters for a second straight week. He left the game again after the appetizers were over. It was good to see Chicago include him as a receiver (two receptions) and pass protector. Receiving and blocking aren’t its strong points, but even low efficiency is better there than being out of field. Rookie Trestan Ebner was the next fullback on the field and appears to be third on Chicago’s running back depth chart, but he seems unlikely to contribute this season without an injury.
Herbert is Montgomery’s clear handcuff, but he could also see significant playing time depending on how the new coaching staff decides to distribute touches.
draft Velus Jones Jr. in deep leagues: Jones missed the first game of the preseason with an undisclosed injury but made his NFL debut Thursday night. The third-round pick played with the starters in sets of three receivers and kept playing when the second team came in. He’ll likely drop to fourth on Chicago’s receiver depth chart once Byron Pringle returns from his quadriceps injury, but he has a decent chance of overtaking Equanimeous St. Brown for third place could eventually overtake Pringle as well.
There are plenty of rookie wide receivers to give a shot ahead of Jones, but he has a clear path towards game time and his quality of play is unknown.
Consider the elaboration Cole Kmet only if his ADP falls: The Bears tight end missed the Bears’ first preseason game but started this one. He got off to a great start with two catches from three targets for 31 yards – both passes going for first downs. On the downside, he didn’t play all nine offensive snaps and only ran a route on five of eight passing plays. The Bears invested in backup tight ends James O’Schnaussey and Ryan Griffin so they could make more frequent changes to Kmet compared to previous years under the new coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy came from Green Bay, which was constantly shooting tight ends. Kmet is typically the 12th tight end selected in fantasy drafts, but he would need to both maintain his past volume and improve significantly as a player to justify this pick.
draft Travis Homer in lower leagues: Both Seahawks defensemen struggling for the early job missed that game through injuries, allowing Homer to be the all-down defenseman. He was the Seahawks’ only offense in the first 20 minutes, recording 46 yards from three carries and one of the team’s only two receptions. He played every one of the Seahawks’ first 12 plays before DeeJay Dallas took over. Homer appears locked in as the Seahawks’ third down and two-minute drillback. Seattle’s offense didn’t look good, which means Homer was able to amass a lot of clear passing opportunities on the field. If either Seahawks rusher is injured, Homer would also play some snaps on early downs, giving enough opportunities to potentially be a fantasy starter in some matchups.
Don’t design Noah Fant: Fant was part of the Russell-Wilson trade this spring. His showing in the first game of preseason was a concern as he shared the entire first half with 2020 fourth-rounder Colby Parkinson. Will Dissly missed that game but was back Thursday night to complicate matters. Both Fant and Dissly started and were alternately used in the first half. Parkinson joined the rotation on the third ride. Fant seems to be high on the depth chart, but it would be difficult for a tight ending to be a consistent fantasy starter with this kind of rotation. The Seahawks’ quarterback situation is even more difficult.
Ignore the Seahawks wide receiver snaps tonight: DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett weren’t supposed to play, but both played all three snaps on the first drive before walking for the rest of the game. You are locked in as a starter. Freddie Swain played five of the six snaps on the Seahawks’ first two drives, but then his night was over. He’s probably imprisoned in the third reception point.
table notes
- Snaps include plays recalled due to penalties, including offensive holds or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have had those plays removed.
- Goals may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clearly discarded pass, where the NFL can give the goal to the next receiver while those dates don’t.
- Carrys are only on draft plays. Quarterback scrambles do not count towards the total number of carries in the game.